Flocourtia jangomas L. fruits found in Brahmaputra valley agro-climatic condition: A nutritional study

Abstract

Fruits have always been a leading part of our diet. Fruits and other parts of plants have been used for their medicinal properties in different purposes, mostly human health. Generally, fruits are delicious and also rich in phytochemicals which have immense health benefits. Pharmaceutical companies are always craving for the discovery of newer elements in plants which can be used as medicines. The fruits of Flacourtia jangomas L., mostly eaten raw, are sparingly available in Brahmaputra valley agro-climatic condition and subject for study on its basic nutritional and nutraceutical properties covering the parameters such as total carbohydrate, crude proteins, dietary fibers, total phenols and flavonoids as well as antioxidant properties. The results showed satisfactory information as total carbohydrate amounting 14.1±1.2%, total protein content at 4.21±0.78%, ash content at 0.735±0.11%, total lipid 0.16±0.03%, total phenolics content 390 mg GAE/100g of dry matter, flavonoid content at 6.66 mg GAE/100g dry matter, crude fibre content at 1.01±0.11%, ascorbic acid at 105.63 mg/100g dry matter. Antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of dry fruit matter reveals that 11µg/ml can reduce half of the reactive oxygen species (in DPPH method). These results show a good promise on the potentiality of the fruit to be used as a good source of bioactive compounds along with basic food nutrients.